AN: So, for me, this is a short chapter but when I got to the end it just seemed like a good spot to stop so stop I did. Hope you all enjoy this update as I finish off the night!

Will fell in step beside Hotch as the two started across the parking lot of their apartment complex. The New Orleans native had enjoyed the evening out and was disappointed that it was quickly coming to an end. Still, assuming that Aaron had enjoyed the evening as much as he had, and the smile that had hardly left the normal stern looking man's face told Will that he had, then there would be more evenings like this one.

Glancing around the parking lot, Will didn't see anyone else out and about. Feeling it was safe to do so, he reached out and slipped his hand into Aaron's.

"Thank-you for dinner," Will said, as he felt Aaron's hand tighten gently around his own. "I enjoyed tonight. The restaurant was a nice taste of home for me."

"I was hoping you'd like it," Hotch admitted, glad that he had picked a good spot for their first date. "Perhaps next time we go there, we can take the boys along. It's been awhile since Jeff has seen Jack."

"Sounds like a plan," Will replied amicably, not minding at all that Hotch was making plans for them as a group. The one thing tonight had shown Will was that he wanted this relationship to work. As enjoyable as being with JJ had been, there had always been something forced about it. He hadn't felt that at all tonight. It hadn't taken much for that nervousness of being on a first date to melt away. After it had, the conversation between the two of them had flowed naturally, as if the two of them had known each other for years.

The two walked in comfortable silence for a bit before Will spoke again.

"I was thinking that perhaps the next time we go out, we take the boys, so that they don't feel left out. Maybe take them to a movie or something."

Aaron nodded. "Sounds reasonable. If I'm not out of town on a case, perhaps we can grab burgers and take them to a movie the next Saturday you're off."

"I'm agreeable with that," Will agreed, not at all bothered by the stipulation about Hotch possibly being out of town. He had been use to that with JJ and he had known about Hotch's unpredictable schedule before venturing into the relationship. It was just one of those things that had to be dealt with and Will knew he could do it. Like JJ, Hotch was dedicated to his job and the team and Will would never ask him to change that. "And the next time the two of us go out by ourselves, I'm planning the date," he added.

Hotch smiled at the fact that Will just assumed there would be another date for the two of them. He didn't mind the assumption at all, as he was looking forward to spending more time alone with the Cajun. He hadn't been this happy since before Haley had left him.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with," Hotch replied, reaching out to open the door to the building that they had reached.

Though they continued on in silence, Hotch kept hold of Will's hand. Like Will, he wanted to keep the night going just as long as he could, knowing that once they reached the apartment they would need to monitor their displays of affection for Jack and Henry's sake.

All too soon though, they were standing outside their apartment. Finally letting go of Will's hand, Hotch took out his key and opened the door. Stepping inside they found Garcia sitting peacefully in front of the tv, knitting hooks clicking softly as she worked on her latest project.

"Both boys are in bed and sleeping peacefully," Garcia said smiling up at her boss and Will as they entered the apartment. "They were perfect angels," she added.

"You must see a side of them that we don't," Will quipped, as he pushed the apartment door shut behind him.

Garcia smiled at the comment. "Of course I do. They love spending time with their Aunt Penny," she replied, sitting her knitting project on the cushion next to her. "I hope you two boys had as much fun as the three of us did tonight," she added, a mischievous glint coming into her eyes as she reached for the bag at her feet.

Hotch glanced over at Will as he spoke. "We did enjoy ourselves. Thank-you for watching the boys for us."

"The pleasure was mine," Garcia replied, placing the bag in her lap and reaching for her knitting. "Any time the two of you want some time alone, you know how to reach me," she told them, placing her stuff in the bag and getting to her feet. "I love spending time with those two."

"We'll keep that in mind," Hotch told her. There weren't many people he would trust his son with, and despite her idiosyncracies, Garcia was one of those people, just like every other member of his team was.

"Let me walk you out to your car," Will said, reaching out to rest a hand on Garcia's shoulder.

"I would appreciate that," Garcia replied with a smile. Though she tried to ignore it, she had to admit that walking alone at night gave her an uneasy feeling "I'll see you on Monday, Boss Man," she added, giving Hotch a final wave before she and Will left the apartment.

"So, did you and Hotch really have a good time?" she asked Will as the elevator made its way down to the ground floor.

"We did," Will told her without hesitation, "This is the happiest I've been in a long time and I think that Aaron feels the same way."

Garcia smiled at Will's use of her boss' first name. Not many people used it, Dave and Haley being the exceptions, and it told her that the two of them had indeed gotten closer.

"I'm glad you're happy, Will. JJ are my friend, and I love her, but I think what she did to you was really low and then I was upset for you for not trying to make things work because it meant my godson was going to grow up in a broken home, but I'm starting to see that things are working out for the best. JJ seems happier as do you and Hotch and Henry and Jack absolutely adore one another. Perhaps everyone will get a happy ending in the end," Garcia told him as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened.

"I hope so," Will said, smiling himself. It meant a lot that Garcia was accepting of his relationship with Hotch as given the unique circumstances, it had the potential of being awkward. With any luck, the acceptance would extend to the rest of JJ and Hotch's co-workers.

As the two started out across the parking lot, Garcia started relating stories from her night with the boys to keep a silence from settling between the two of them. After saying a quick good-bye, Will stepped back from the car, to allow Garcia to back Esther out of the parking space, before heading back to his apartment.

Stepping into the apartment, Will found the place quiet. As the kitchen light was now on, Will headed in that direction. Stepping into the doorway, he found Hotch at the table, his briefcase open and files strewn across the surface.

Having heard the footsteps, Hotch looked up from his work. "I put some coffee on if you want some," Hotch said.

"Thanks, but I think I'm going to just head to bed. It looks like you plan on being busy for a while."

"It's a good time to get some work done as the kids are in bed."

Will nodded at the explanation, a little disappointed that he wouldn't be spending more time alone with Hotch tonight.

"The weather is supposed to be nice, I was thinking we could take the kids to the park tomorrow after you get off from work. Maybe do a picnic dinner."

"Sounds great," Will replied, walking over to where Hotch sat. Leaning over he pressed his lips against Hotch's.

Letting the pen he had been holding fall to the table, Hotch returned the kiss, his hand reaching up to rest softly against the side of Will's face. Will felt a jolt of electricity at the soft touch of Hotch's hand, something he couldn't ever remember feeling when he kissed JJ. There was a natural passion between the two of them that had been missing in his previous relationship.

"Good night," Will whispered softly when he finally broke away from the kiss.

"Night," Hotch replied, his voice sounding a bit huskier than normal from the emotions elicited from the kiss.

Will turned and headed out of the kitchen, feeling his boyfriend's eyes on him as he walked. After checking in on Henry, and kissing his sleeping son's forehead, Will made his way to his own bedroom. Before long he was crawling under the covers wondering what it would be like when he and Hotch could climb into the same bed at night. After tonight, there was little doubt in his mind that they would get there eventually, he just didn't know what obstacles lay in the way between that point and where they were now.